BoatsRS Elite

RS Elite

Fractional Sloop · Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder · First built 2004

A Phil Morrison-designed fractional sloop with a high ballast-to-displacement ratio, built for three-person class racing

Designed by Phil Morrison.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.72 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 975 kg of hull, so roughly 1,550 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Shoal draughtDraws 1.10 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
CoastalBluewater

1.75 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.75
EasygoingPowered-up

22.7 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 22.7
TenderStiff

64% of her weight is ballast — very stiff, carrying full sail in a blow.

Ballast 64%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

  • Lighter than ~90% of boats her size on file
  • Draws less than ~76% of boats her size on file
  • Narrower than ~100% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1422 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
64.1%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
22.7
Capsize screening
1.75
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 2004
Designer
Phil Morrison
Builder
RS Sailing

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

J J/77.04 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA 2024 fractional sloop with a shallow 1.16m draft and a high 23.55 sail-area-to-displacement ratio for responsive daysailing
J7: Finally an affordable sailboat0:49from SEILmagasinet
Catalina Yachts 22 MKII7.26 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn upgraded 1995 iteration of the classic trailerable cruiser, featuring a fin keel and transom-hung rudder
Why TODAY Is the Best Time to Buy a 22-Foot Sailboat2:24from Lady K Sailing
Gilbert Marine Tequila7.20 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop that claimed the 1971 Quarter Ton Cup with her prototype performance
Lost at Sea Sailing Couple From YouTube Dies in Life Raft - Ep 307 - Lady K Sailing0:45from Lady K Sailing
Platu 257.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Bruce Farr-designed one-design racer with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio for rapid performance
After all!! Is it possible to build a sailboat on your own? VelaShow 2024 lecture ep 126 s11:46from Entre Terras e Mares
Beneteau First 2357.11 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA Groupe Finot-designed fractional sloop built for performance, featuring a light displacement and high sail area ratio
Sailing is Not Expensive - Full Cost Breakdown - ep 2813:07from Lady K Sailing
Merit 257.47 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA fractional-rigged 25-footer with a light displacement and high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for responsive sailing
SAILING RACE VICTORY8:18from Wicked Salty

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Elite 30SA 1984 masthead sloop with a high 19.39 SA/displacement ratio, designed for responsive performance on a fin keelElite 29A Philippe Briand-designed masthead sloop sharing its hull with the Feeling 850, offered in various rig and keel setupsElite 32A Philippe H. Harle design marketed as the Feeling 920, offering both fractional and masthead rig optionsRS 21Fractional Sloop · 6.40 mElite 30A Philippe Briand-designed fractional sloop and 1983 International 1/2 Ton Cup winner built for competitive performanceElite 25A Joubert-Nivelt fractional sloop designed for performance with a fin keel and transom-hung rudder

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

Search the fleet for boats like thisAsk the fleet about the RS Elite

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